We've been robbed of joy, security, democracy and the pursuit of happiness . . .

[hawkeye21]

. . . By one depraved man and his demented cult followers. What could have been four years of relatively stress-free, normal existence under the inspiring guidance of Kamala and Tim will now be fraught with constant anxiety over a dictator's whims. I'll never forgive anyone who helped make this happen. Never. With all due respect to those suffering from combat PTSD, I feel like I have the civilian version. The shock hasn't even really set in yet. I'm just in a fog as to how and why this has happened. I feel utterly powerless and hopeless. Food is no solace. I find no joy in following my favorite sports teams. I'm a zombie, and I'm mad as hell with no appropriate way to vent that anger.

I just got back from donating some stuff to Goodwill, and one of the patrons--an old man of, maybe, 80--was wearing a bright red T-shirt with a huge picture of that smug MAGA man with the words, "Still my president." It made me sick. And if were to wear a T-shirt saying the opposite, I risk getting beaten or shot. This is our country--what's left of it anyway.

RIP USA

July 4, 1776
to
Nov. 5, 2024

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Cheer up. Trump will swear on a Bible to uphold the Constitution that he spent 9 months

promising to undermine.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Nov 5 2024. A day which will live in infamy.

The loss of the country we love.

[ananda]

3. Sigh

Infamous and so sad for all of us.

(Glad to see you here again.)

[hawkeye21]

5. Thanks.

I split my career between newspaper reporting and teaching, and never in my most awful nightmares did I contemplate a day like today. May we all find peace somehow as we navigate our way forward.

I've often used the slogan Lincoln kept on his desk in the Oval to cheer others and myself, but today--for the first time--it rings hollow. That slogan is:
"And this, too, shall pass."

[ananda]

8. Well, in a sense, it will pass...

but a whole lot of people will pass with it.

[Hope22]

4. Even wearing a Kamala shirt would have put you at risk!

I want to say that on Monday I was in the dentist office and my dentist is a young woman, the woman who was working on me was in the room as well. At one point there were three women in the room with me. One had a two month old baby, one had a fifteen month old baby and the third had a two year old. The emotion just came over how amazing it was to see these women giving such care and balancing families. I told them I was taking a picture in my mind of how beautiful it all was. Thinking that we would all have an amazing woman president in our lives the next day. Last night went down hard. I could not watch the talking heads at all usually I would be up until 3 or 4 to not miss a minute. I couldn’t watch, couldn’t believe and was overcome with fear for my daughter in law who is six months pregnant. It’s really all too much. My heart is with you. I feel your pain. For reals! Be easy with yourself. 💗💗🙏🏼

[hawkeye21]

6. Thanks for your wonderful anecdote and empathy.

And may our tomorrows be better than our yesterdays.

[Hope22]

7. You are more than welcome.

Here’s to tomorrows!💗